From the history and culture in Kathmandu to the incredible mountain scenery of the Annapurnas, we get the chance to discover the variety of cultures, landscapes and religions that make Nepal today. This trip gives us the opportunity to see all facets of this fascinating country: the narrow streets and temples of Kathmandu, the lakeside city of Pokahra at the foot of the Annapurnas, and the wildlife in Chitwan, an ideal introduction to the delights of Nepal.

Itinerary

Show detailed itinerary

1Day 1Start Kathmandu.

We arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to our hotel. Those on Land Only arrangements will join us in the afternoon at the Royal Singi Hotel. This evening there will be a full trip briefingSee more images and videos

2Day 2Scenic drive to Bandipur for excellent views of Manaslu and the Annapurnas; optional river rafting.

We leave Kathmandu early in the morning and head towards Pokhara. After leaving the Kathmandu valley, the road winds its way along the Trisuli Valley and we will have superb views of the mountains as we follow the river west. There is a chance to go rafting on the Trisuli River (optional), which is moderate and offers the best introduction to rafting in Nepal. Those who want to participate will meet the raft guides a couple of hours after leaving Kathmandu. Each raft holds 8 people. Life jackets and helmets are provided and there will be a safety briefing. There will be about three hours rafting with grade 2-4 rapids. We stop for lunch on the river side and later we will continue on to Bandipur. Situated at 1030 metres this picturesque town is nestled in the Himalayan foothills and has wonderful panoramic views of the Annapurna Range. Full of traditional Newari architecture it is a beautiful place to explore and soak up the tranquil atmosphere. There are numerous temples, caves and shrines - the perfect retreat after busy Kathmandu.
Those not rafting will drive directly to Bandipur and will be there by lunchtime. The afternoon is free to explore the town.See more images and videos

3Day 3Daywalk from Bandipur into the surrounding hills.

Today we explore the surrounding area of Bandipur. This picturesque town is nestled in the Himalayan foothills of Nepal, lying above the main road that connects Kathmandu to Pokhara. Situated on a hilltop it has maintained its traditional atmosphere and boasts a mix of history, culture, architecture and spectacular panoramic views of the entire Annapurna range, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Langtang and the Marsyangdi Valley. Bandipur was once a prosperous trading centre, and its charming buildings with their Newari-style facades and shuttered windows reflect its past glory. It was originally a Magar village settled in the early 19th century by Newars from Bhaktapur because of its malaria-free location, and it became an important stop on the India to Tibet trade route. Along with their trading skills and dialect the Newars brought their rich cultural heritage and architecture, which still defines the current Bandipur. After breakfast we will have a choice of walks. You can either walk to Ramkot which is a typical Magar village with traditional round houses, untouched by modern development (4 hours round trip) or walk to the biggest cave yet discovered in Nepal, Siddha Cave (4 hours round trip). This is also an easy hike.
For either walk we will take a picnic lunch from the hotel with us.See more images and videos

4Day 4Drive to Pokhara.

We rejoin the main road and head west to Pokhara passing beautiful scenery on the way. Set in a beautiful valley near Phewa Tal, Pokhara has a magnificent backdrop; the mighty Annapurnas and Machhapuchhare, one of the most distinctive of the Himalayan peaks. We should reach Pokhara by lunchtime where the afternoon is free to explore its lakes, temples, traditional bazaar and array of handicraft shops.

5Day 5Drive to Khare; trek through beautiful terraced fields to Dhampus with magnificent views of Macchapuchhare; return to Pokhara.

We have three day walks around Pokhara in the foothills of the Annapurnas. All walks are optional and for those not wishing to participate your leader will suggest alternative activities.
This morning we drive out of Pokhara to Khare from where we walk through lush forests to Australian Camp. From here, we should have magnificent views of the Annapurnas. We then head to the neatly laid out terraces of Dhampus. This village is set on a ridge with magnificent views of the Annapurnas. Machhapuchhare, the 'Fishtail' mountain can be seen throughout the day as it sits in the middle of the range and has a very distinctive shape. Considered holy this mountain cannot be climbed by anyone. Our bus will meet us here for the drive back to Pokhara.See more images and videos

6Day 6Boat across the lake; walk to the Japanese Peace Pagoda; overnight in mountain lodge with views of the Annapurnas.

We pack up this morning. The bus will take our luggage (and anyone not wanting to walk) to the Raniban Retreat. We will take a short boat trip across the lake (approx half an hour). We then walk up to the Japanese Peace Pagoda, set on a hill overlooking the lake. From here it's a short walk to the Raniban Retreat, where we stay for two nights. This quiet guest house looks out on to the lake. With the Annapurnas as a backdrop this makes for a perfect setting to sit out on the veranda and enjoy the sunset and sunrise. See more images and videos

We drive to Chitwan, where we spend the next two nights. The most popular way of seeing animals is on elephant back early in the morning. From the elephant we should see the Indian one-horned rhinoceros and several species of deer. We also make trips along the Rapti River in a dugout canoe, looking for crocodile and observing the abundant bird life. The safari lodge has knowledgeable and helpful staff, who accompany us on all the excursions. The lodge has a small complex of two-roomed huts with attached bathrooms and a separate communal dining/bar area.See more images and videos

The day is free for sightseeing in Kathmandu. You may wish to visit Durbar Square in the heart of the old city where the old Royal Palace, with its intricate woodcarving is located. Outside is Kumari Chowk, home of the Kumari, the young girl who is revered as a living goddess. The whole area is a maze of temples and images. Alternatively you may wish to visit the monkey temple at Swayambunath, one of the largest Buddhist Stupas in the world at Bodnath, or the most important Hindu temple in the valley at Pashupatinath. Various sightseeing tours can be booked and paid for locally. For more details of these activities please refer to the Optional Excursions section.

Your images

Guided Group

This is a small group guided holiday. The group is usually between 4 and 16 in size, with an average of 12 like-minded clients booking individually, in a couple or as friends together.

Activity level

You are reasonably fit, enjoy the outdoors and are looking for some exercise. Some previous experience is preferable for activity based trips.

What's included

What's included

10 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

All accommodation (see below)

All transport and listed activities

Tour leader throughout

Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)

Arrival & departure transfers

What's not included

Travel insurance

Single accommodation (available on request)

Visas or vaccinations

Accommodation details

Hotels, Lodges, Tents & Teahouses

The accommodation used on this trek is a mixture of hotels, teahouses and jungle lodge. In Kathmandu we stay in a hotel close to the centre. In and around Pokhara we use guesthouses with twin bedded rooms and attached bathrooms. The Raniban Retreat has a mixture of bedrooms and comfortable fixed tents all with attached bathrooms. In Bandipur we stay in a guest house. In Chitwan we stay in a comfortable jungle lodge, with twin bedded huts with attached bathrooms.

A single supplement is usually available in Kathmandu, Pokhara & Chitwan (From £195). There is no single supplement available whilst on the trek.

Essential info

Vaccinations and Visa
Most nationalities require a visa for Nepal, which can be obtained in advance or on entry. The current cost of a visa on arrival is USD25 for 15 days, USD40 for 30 days or if extending your stay USD100 for 90 days. All are multiple entry. You will also need a passport photo. The visa fee can be paid in US Dollars, Pounds Sterling or Euros. If you wish to apply before departure the current visa cost is GBP20 for a 15 day visa and GBP35 for a 30 day visa for UK passport holders. All other nationalities should check with their nearest embassy.
There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. The risk of malaria is present in certain regions only (such as Chitwan); you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Most of our trips to Nepal go to high altitudes where there is a risk of being affected by Acute Mountain Sickness. Our itineraries are designed to enable everyone to acclimatise to these altitudes, but you should be aware that it is still possible for you to be affected. Please refer to the TRIP NOTES for complete advice on AMS.
Holiday style

Graded leisurely/moderate, this is an active trip with plenty of cultural interaction. There are 4 optional day walks. The walking is well within the reach of anybody who is reasonably fit and is at moderate altitude (below 2000m) and on well-established trails.

Eating & drinking

All breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners.
Please allow GBP20-GBP25 per day for lunches and dinners not included. Of course you are free to spend as much as you want; the cost of meals will vary depending how much you want to eat, what you order and whether you order soft drinks or alcohol. In Chitwan all meals are provided.

Trip notes

Download the detailed trip notes for everything you could possibly want
to know about this trip, including detailed itinerary and full kit list.

Weather & seasonality

The main trekking season in Nepal is from October to mid-May when daytime temperatures at most altitudes are generally comfortable for walking, the sky is clear much of the time and rain and snow are occasional occurrences. Daytime temperatures will vary from 10 to 30degC in the Kathmandu Valley. Different seasons have different weather patterns.

Post Monsoon/autumn: Mid September to November. This is the main tourist season in Nepal. Day temperatures in Kathmandu and Pokhara are usually above 20degC. Skies are usually clear and days are sunny and mild with clear mountain views. Nights will be cooler with temperatures dropping to 5degC. Chitwan will be hot and sunny in the daytime and cooler in the evenings

Winter: December to end February. Despite the colder conditions this is an ideal time to visit Nepal. Skies are usually very clear especially in December and the mountain views are at their best. Mornings and evenings will be cold but days are usually pleasantly warm and sunny. In Kathmandu maximum daytime temperatures are 19degC. In Chitwan mornings and evenings can be cold but once the sun is up the days are pleasant.

Pre-monsoon: March to May. Both day and night temperatures will be much hotter in general but haze will often build up in the afternoons and there can be some rain. It is hot in the lowlands and temperatures rise to 30degC in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Flowers bloom in this season and this is one of the reasons people chose to trek in spring. Chitwan will be very hot in the daytime and mild in the evenings.

Please remember that in any mountain area the weather is never wholly predictable and you should be prepared and equipped to deal with any differences in weather beyond the conditions described above.

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Reviews & community

This was my fourth Exodus trip and I have very much enjoyed all of them. Not being an exercise freak I was a bit concerned about fitness and walking but the guide was very good at leading the walks (in the heat and sometimes high humidity) at a steady pace with frequent short stops. The one hard morning climb up to Raniban was balanced by having the afternoon to relax. In summary, there was no part of the trip that wasn't enjoyable, among a group of very friendly fellow travellers.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

The village walk from Raniban was a highlight. The Nepalese are very friendly and unaffected people and made us tourists feel very welcome.

I also enjoyed elephant bathing at Chitwan. Hopefully the elephant I was scrubbing with a flat stone did too!

What did you think of your group leader?

Prasant is a very affable and competent leader, who worked ceaselessly to make everybody happy.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Check the weather for the actual places to be visited when packing. The trip turned out to be much hotter than projected on the Exodus web site and I very nearly brought the wrong clothing. It might have been cooler further north.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I was traveling at the start of the season just after the monsoon. Some of the hotel rooms were a bit damp and musty and needed a good airing.
The jungle stay at Chitwan would have benefitted from the services of an experienced naturalist. The local guide was well-intentioned but didn't deliver as much of an experience as I would have liked.
Otherwise no complaints. Another great Exodus trip.

An overview of a beautiful country, but make sure you're fit. The supposedly 'gentle walks' were fairly strenuous! The weather was much milder than we expected - and much cloudier!

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Nothing really inspirational - but there were a few disappointments. The white water rafting was cancelled because of (unexplained) technical problems. The wildlife scene at Chitwan didn't seem to offer much - certainly a lot less than we were led to expect. Viewing from the back of an elephant on a very uncomfortable wooden platform is not ideal, especially if you're the one at the back with a view of little more than the elephant's backside.

The elephant bathing was fun.

The weather also could have been better - and obviously there's nothing you can do about that. All too often, clouds obscured the wonderful mountain panoramas we were hoping for. Moral: when you see the mountains, stop the bus and photograph them before they disappear.

What did you think of your group leader?

Prasant is a very lively, likeable leader and manages to keep everything (everyone!) under control. He also enriched our vocabularies with expressions such as 'technical stop'!

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

If you can, add on a couple of extra days in Kathmandu. We were surprised that a trip billed as 'Highlights of Nepal' didn't include any organised sightseeing of Kathmandu (whereas Highlights of Tibet does!). There is a lot to see in the city and surrounding areas and the spare time on this trip didn't give enough opportunity to see it.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Don't bother with the Everest flight and save yourself $200! The views out of the (dirty) windows are largely obstructed by the propeller. Definitely not worth the money - and we don't think Exodus should promote it.

Exodus Response

Whilst there is a certain amount of luck involved with all game viewing, we feel that our trip notes give a realistic expectation of the wildlife it is possible to view in Chitwan National Park. Many of our clients have great wildlife sightings in the park, but we are disappointed that Rhoda was not so fortunate on this occasion. We are also sorry that the white water rafting had to be cancelled for technical problems. For various reasons we are no longer actively promoting the Everest flight, but if clients still wish to take a flight, our tour leaders will point them in the right direction.

A great way to get a flavour for this amazing country. You get to see the bustling city, lush forest area and amazing mountains. It takes the stress out of travelling around trying to fit things in and cherry picks the best bits to see.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Standing at some of the highest points we climbed to as a group and looking around and seeing everyone of different ages and abilities smiling and taking in the views and where we had walked from - Pokhara up to Raniban in particular.

What did you think of your group leader?

Our group leader was knowledgeable, explained everything clearly so we weren't bombarded with information but drip fed it as needed. He balanced the needs of the various people in our group really well and we felt well looked after.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Do come prepared with the right gear so you can fully enjoy the experience. Investing in good boots and socks plus waterproofs is well worth it. Taking time also do a few good long hilly walks will also help with you being able to feel like you are not too puffed out - although the pace is flexed according to the needs of everyone in the group too :o)

Paula has extensive experience of Exodus’ adventure travel portfolio. </span>Her love of travel started when she went Inter-railing around Europe as a student – whetting her appetite to explore new destinations and cultures. Over the years her travels have taken her on lots of amazing adventures, including trekking some of the remotest parts of the Great Wall in China, camping out under the star-lit skies in Peru, and losing herself in the narrow streets of Amalfi.

Questions about your trip

Pick your question

I have some free time in Kathmandu?

For those wishing to get away from the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu and do a bit of pre/ post trekking and at the same time fancy seeing a religious site, Nagarkot is the best bet. It takes about 2 hours to reach in a pre-arranged car or taxi, and lies at 2100m giving spectacular mountain views to Kathmandu valley below on clear days. From Nagarkot you can then take a leisurely 2 -3 hours walk downhill to the Hindu temple of Chagu Narayan walking through the countryside with terraced rice fields, villages to mountain views. The temple itself, famous for its carved stone statues, is listed in the UNESCO’s world heritage site and situated on top of a small hillock on middle of a lovely Newari village where you can observe everyday life. Arrange for the same car to pick up at Changu from where you can either drive back to Kathmandu or visit the historical city of Bhakatapur that falls half way between on the way back.

Niraj Chand Shrestha - Customer Operations

Do you have any advice about malaria and rabies?

Unfortunately we are not qualified to answer all your questions in regards to travel health, so we strongly recommend you contact your GP or a Travel Health Clinic at least 8 weeks prior to departure for up-to-date information.

Nomad Travel Clinics are experts in preparing people for travel, providing advice on vaccinations, anti-malarial and staying healthy whilst overseas. We have arranged a special 10% discount for Exodus passengers on any vaccinations that you may require! Take along your Nomad discount card, sent with your confirmation pack, or call Exodus for your special discount code.Visit www.nomadtravel.co.uk/exodus for further information.

I have some free time in Kathmandu?

If you are looking to do something off the beaten track just for half a day around Kathmandu, head out to Bungmati and Khokana. Just an hour drive on the outskirts of Kathmandu and you will find yourself in this sleepy little twin village where not much has changed in terms of construction, profession of people (most are still farmers, woodcarvers and weavers) or the pace of life. The twin villages are 15 minutes apart and you walk through the dirt trails, with farms and fields on either side. Should you have extra time and still want to do something, the Tibetan Refugee Settlement where you can see carpet weaving to a Tibetan Buddhist Monastery falls half way on the way back from here to the Royal Singi Hotel.

Niraj Chand Shrestha - Customer Operations

Any good tips for eating out in Kathmandu?

Head down to the Everest Steak House in southern Thamel for a mouth watering steak and chips, well earned if you’re just back from trek. Finish it off with a cocktail in the legendary Tom & Jerry bar up the road!

You can also head to Fire and Ice Pizzeria in Thamel, a great place with casual indoor and outdoor eating which is popular amongst travellers, and locals alike. This restaurant is a great place to meet for a morning cup of Italian espresso, or a hearty meal of delicious pizzas, pastas, ice cream and even a Grappa!

Brendan Phelan - Customer Operations

Any special food I should try in Kathmandu?

Dal BhatDal Bhat is the Nepali staple food. It consists of rice and lentils and a spicy vegetable or meat curry. Nepalis will eat this twice a day. A good lunchtime Dal Bhat is served at Nanglos restaurant 5 minutes walk from the Royal Singi Hotel, or try the Royal Dal Bhat at Kilroys.

Momos

This Nepalese version of dumplings/ wantons is a traditional delicacy and a must try local dish while you are in Nepal. Momo dumplings are either steamed or fried with chicken/or buff (water buffalo) as well as stuffed with vegetables for vegetarians and have become the most famous fast food amongst Nepalese and can be found on the menus of most restaurants serving locals and tourists alike.

Kwanti soup

This mixed bean soup is usually served during festivals and gatherings and now has made its way in many of restaurant menus. Goes well with Naan or roti bread.

Choela

This is a typical Newari dish smoked meat (chicken; lamb or buffalo meat) tossed with spices and mustard oil. Easily available in most Nepalese and local restaurants in Kathmandu around Hotel Royal Singi and in sightseeing spots.

Niraj Chand Shrestha - Customer Operations

Exodus staff - expertise on hand to help

All the staff at Exodus share a passion for adventure travel, and are always happy to answer any questions you may have. You can find an expert for the area you are interested in here and can contact them to get further information. If you don't see your specific country listed, please email customerops@exodus.co.uk and they will get the answers you need!

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